Combination safety swimming float



y 12, 1932- c. c. HARRIS COMBINATION SAFETY SWIMMING FLOAT 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 17, 1931- July 12, 1932. Q c HARRS 1,867,507

COMBINATION SAFETY SWIMMING FLOAT V Filed-Feb. 17, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 mm (7075 CLZQEv-rzd 6y WW4 Patented July 12, 1932 CARL c. mars, or ORANGE, MASSACHUSETTS v coMBINA'rroN SAFETY SWIMMING FLOAT Application filed February 17,1931. v Serial No. 516,380.

The principal objects of this invention The are to provide a strong and rigid float capable of being used as aswimming float or life preserver and yet of a light construction 5 which will be capable of allowing the water to drain out rapidly and drying readily so that it can" retain its light character soon after being used; to provide a construction which can be'employed as a beach sled, and to provide a construction which can be set up on the sand at an angle to constitute a back to rest against.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, in which v Fig. 1 is a plan of a preferred embodiment of the invention with the canvas on top broken away to show the construction below;

Fig. 2 is an edge view; :Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view on the line 33 of Fig. 1; y V

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of a portion of the device on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1

Fig. 5 is an edge view showing it set up with the body of it at an inclination for use as aback; V

Fig. 6 is an elevation thereof; v Fig. 7 is an edge View showing it-used as a beach sled, and V V Fig. 8 is an edge view of the same- This float is made up preferably of a series of blocks or strips 10 of cork orother buoyant wooden cross rods 11 which extend through a series of them and are held at their ends by parallel wooden side pieces 12. The strips of cork are rigidly supported therefore. The float carries two transverse end rods 13 spaced from the cork and adapted to further strengthen the frame and alsoto be used as handles. Onerod 13 is fixed to the material. They are-assembled or strung on single layer of canvas 16, the ends of which are secured together, i This canvas layer would hear on the ground or sidewalk if the device was dragged alongand tend to creep along the cork. Therefore it would-be subjected to strains which would eventually wear it out but the side pieces 12 arev wider than the cork and protect it from that action. Thls construction, as so-far described, can constitute the entire device'when it is to be used as a swimming float, a life preserver, or a slide to hold a person while sliding down a chute into the water. In order'tofit the device for use as a back.

as shown in Figs. 5 and 6 to be used on the sand as a rest for the back of theuser, the two slde pieces 12 arepr0vided',-on the inner sidesof the two side pieces, with another pair of side pieces 19. These are pivoted to the side pieces 12 by the rod- 13 at one end. At the other end there is an identical rod 13 fixedto the inner side pieces 19. The cork strlps are cut out at 26 to provide spaces for the side pieces 19 when closed.

On a springy wooden rod or stud 17 is fixed a horizontal wooden'latch 18 having a pointed end and a longitudinal open slot at the other end. In looking position the slot receivesthe' first rod 11, which allows-the latch 18 to move longitudinally and the end passesabove the rod or handle'13 as shown in Fig. 3. When the side pieces 19 are moved down about the pivot at one end, the rod .17 must be moved to allow the slotto encompass the rod 11 and the side pieces 19 can then'be turned on'therod 13 to the posi tion shown in Fig. 3. The sharp end of the latch'springs' over the handle rod 13. This locks the parts in this position. To unlatch it the rod 17 has to be forced back far enough to release the latch 18. brought to the position shown in Figs. 5 and 6 to. constitute a beach back rest. The ends of the side pieces 19 are angular at 20 to dig into the sand and hold them. These side pieces can be used as thills as shown in Fig. 7

to adapt the devicefor use as a beach sled.

The. invention can be employed foreitherof whole body of cork is surrounded by a- The parts can be these purposes without the buoyant material, within the scope of this invention.

On the side pieces 12 are cleats 24: which support the longitudinal rods 14 constituting rigid handles for the use of swimmers 1n grasping the device when it is fixed together and used as a float, also for use in carrying it and for throwing it out on the water when used as a life preserver. The rods 13 have the same functions.

This constitutes a light and rigid construction which will serve adequately allthe purposes above described. In place of the cork,

7 a board or boards can be used instead of the more buoyant material. This would be particularly useful when the device is to be used as a beach sled or back rest. It ismade entirely of wood, no nails or other metal parts being used. It cannot rust anywhere, and it has no metal parts that can scratch the body.

Although I have illustrated and described only one form of the invention, I am aware of the fact that modifications can be made therein by any person skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as expressed in the claims. Therefore, I do not wish to be limited to all the details of construction herein shown and described, but what I do claim is I 7 1. A float comprising a pair of side pieces and blocks of buoyant material mounted between them, a pair of cross rods extending from one side piece to the other at the ends beyond the buoyant material to serve as rigid 1 transverse handles, a second pair of side pieces pivoted thereto, and a pair of longitudinal rigid side handles supported by the side pieces and spaced laterally from them. 2. A float comprising a pair of side pieces and two sets of blocks of cork mounted between them, the entire series of corksbeing provided with; a canvas cover surounding them, a pair ofrods extending from oneside piece to the other beyond the corks to serve as handles, a second pair of side pieces between the first-named side pieces and pivoted thereto, and a pair of-handles supported by the first-named side pieces and spaced from them. 8. As an article of manufacture, a float comprising a rigid central member having sides, a pair of rods carried by said sides, an.- .other pair of side pieces between the first named sides and pivoted thereto at one end, a pivoted latchhaving a slot at one end and a point at the other end, and means carried by said side pieces normally projecting into said slot for holding the latch in position to engage a stationary part carried by the pivoted side pieces, whereby the pivoted side pieces can be moved by force to release them from the first-named side pieces and allow the said side pieces to be swung away from the float for the purpose described;

4:. As an article of manufacture, a float comprising a rigid member having sides, a rod carried by said sides, a pair of side pieces between the first-named sides and pivoted thereto at one end, a pair of cross rods or handles carried by the side pieces at opposite ends, a wooden movable latch, an open-end ed slot at the end, said rod extending into said slot, whereby the latch can hold the parts together against one of the cross rods and whereby the pivoted side pieces can be moved to release the cross rod from the open-ended slot and allow the said side pieces to be swung aboutthe rod at the other end, for the purpose described.

5. As an article of manufacture, a beach sled comprising a pair of side pieces adapted to serve as runners, and a pair of additional side pieces pivotally connected with the first named side pieces at one end, and adapted to be swung out to a position in which they can serve as thills.

6. A float comprising a pair of side pieces and buoyant material mounted between them, a cross rod extending from one side piece to the other at the end beyond thebuoyant material to serve as a rigid transversehandle,

a second pair of side pieces pivoted thereto, and a pair of longitudinal side handles supported by the side pieces.

7. As an article of manufacture, a float having two pairs of side pieces and two rods extending across it at one end, one rod supported by one pair of side pieces and the other by the other pair, said side pieces being pivoted together at the opposite end, and a pivoted latch having a slot at one end for receiving one of said rods and guiding the latch and a point at the other end adapted to slip over the other rod to hold the side pieces in closed position, said latch being provided with a. pivot rodsupported by the float and of light springy material toallow the latch to be moved bodily to release it from one of the first named rods.

8. The combination with a float having one part movable with respect to the other, of a rod carried by each part, said rods being located at the same end of the float, a light springy rod located-between them when the float is closed, and a latch flxedon the central rod and adapted to be moved into and out of contact with the other rods, said latch having a pointed end adapted to engage one of said rods and to slide over the rounded surfaces thereof, into latched or unlatched position, by the motion of that rod past the latch and having means at the other end for engaging the other rod and guiding the latch.

9. A latching device comprising a pair of rods, one movable with respect to the other, a light springy rod between them, and a latch fixed to the lastnamed rod and having a point engaging one of the other rods and adapted to be moved from one side to the other of it by the movement of the latch with its supporting rod and having an open-ended slot at the other end for receiving the other one of the first two rods to constitute a guide.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature. 7

CARL O. HARRIS. 

